CMMi

What is CMMi? Basic terms Levels Common Features Assessment process List of KPAs for each level

CMMi - Introduction
CMMi Capability Maturity Model Integrated A set of best practices, organized under different key process areas Software Engineering Institute (SEI) of Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and US Department of Defense (DoD) did an elaborate study in many top software and hardware companies They compiled the best processes that yielded good results in all these companies That has become a rule book for others to follow This can be used as a scale to measure the process capabilities of a company

CMMi - Introduction
CMM was initially introduced CMM had gaps in areas of electronic/hardware processes, systems engineering, supplier processes, team processes with respect to software processes Hence CMM was improved to bridge these gaps and the new process was called CMMi CMMi has got 2 variations staged and continuous

Basic Terms
KPA key process area
A set of related activities, events and deliverables. A group or department may take the main responsibility

CG common goal
A generic aim to be achieved

GP generic practice
A generic set of activities to be followed

SG specific goal
A specific aim to be achieved within the KPA

SP specific practice
A specific set of activities within the KPA to be followed

AB ability
What enables to carry out the activity

VE verification
How to ensure the KPA is followed well

DI directing implementation
Reviewing status with management, maintaining documents

CO commitment
What are the commitments the management need to provide to implement the KPA

Framework Architecture
Maturity Levels

Process Area 1

Process Area 2

Process Area n

Specific Goals

Generic Goals Common Features

Commitment to Perform Specific Practices

Ability to Perform

Directing Implementation Implementation

Verifying Implementation

Generic Practices

Levels
L1 Initial level. Totally adhoc processes. Success depends on individual capabilities of people L2 Managed. Project level processes are established. Requirements are managed. Successful process in a project can be a role model to others. Each project level process may be different L3 Defined. Organizational level processes are established. These are tailored to projects. Consistency is established across the board. All engineering activities are covered. L4 Quantitatively Managed. Every aspect is measured and statistically compared. Predictability of success is high. L5 Optimizing. Continuously measure and improve all processes and variations. Optimize at organization level.

Common Features
Establishing an organizational policy
At the apex level we need to define a policy to implement the KPA This is a commitment

Institutionalize the process

The process must be consistently implemented across the organization This will increase predictability

Plan the process

Every process implementation must be planned and tracked

Provide Resources
Provide human resources, hardware and software resources, necessary tools

Assign Responsibility
Different stakeholders in the KPA must take specific work areas

Train People
Educate people on the respective KPAs

Manage Configurations
All documents and work products must be tracked for versions and approval levels

Common Features
Monitor and control process
Ensure the tracking is done at all levels

Objectively evaluate adherence

Measure adherence and associate numbers with it across the organization

Review status with management

Status must be communicated and reviewed periodically

Stakeholders
Senior management Project Management Project members (engineering teams) Support groups Quality group Supplier Management group Customer interaction group

Assessment Process
A team of appraisers will be formed along with authorized lead appraiser (ALA) The team will undergo training conducted by ALA A sample set of projects will be taken with all related work products All documents will be reviewed every compliant area will be marked and sticky notes will be attached to the documents A wall chart is prepared with KPA compliance areas with respect to quality management documents and project documents A team of members will be randomly selected from all groups of the organization The appraising team will interview all selected members with a lot of relevant questions to ensure the process knowledge and adherence Every checklist item will be ensured for adherence Depending upon the KPAs satisfied by all team members, the assessment level will be awarded

Process Areas for each Level

Maturity Level 2: Managed
Requirements Management Project Planning Project Monitoring and Control Supplier Agreement Management Measurement and Analysis Process and Product Quality Assurance Configuration Management Requirements Development Technical Solution Product Integration Verification Validation Organizational Process Focus Organizational Process Definition Organizational Training Integrated Project Management for IPPD Risk Management Integrated Teaming Integrated Supplier Management Decision Analysis and Resolution Organizational Environment for Integration Organizational Process Performance Quantitative Project Management Organizational Innovation and Deployment Causal Analysis and Resolution

Maturity Level 3: Defined

Maturity Level 4: Quantitatively Managed

Maturity Level 5: Optimizing